Electric interlocking protective device.



W. K. HOWE.

ELECTRIC INTERLOCKING PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED ocr. 7. 1911.

1,163,153. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR m f i afid COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH qa wasnmumu, D- c.

UNITED STATES FATE ,WINTI-IROP. K. HOWE, or ,nocnns'rnn. NEW YORK, ssisnon T0 GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, or GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC INTERLOCKING PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed October 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,354.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WIN'IHROP K. Hown, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and Stateof New York, have in vented a new and useful Electric Interlocking Protective Device, of which the follow ing is aspecification.

This invention relates to electric interlocking and particularly to a protective device therefor. g

One of the objects of this invention is a mode of construction and connection of a protective device such that only the function which is affected by a cross or foreign current will be rendered inoperative.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will. appear as the description progresses.

In the single figure of the drawing accompanying this specification, wherein appli' cant has illustrated a preferredform of his invention, similar reference characters refer to like parts.

1 designates a reciprocating lever such as is used in electric interlocking systems. This lever is adapted toslide in guides and to have four critical positions, to-wit: a normal position, a reverse position, a normal indication position, and a reverse indication position and is adapted to be movedto these different positions by means of the handle 2. The position in which the lever is shown is what is called thenormal position. Upon being moved in the direction of the arrow a, the lever through the projection 23, acting on the end at of a latch 5, causes the other end 6 of the latch 5 to be raised so as to lie in the path of the projection 7 upon the lever 1, so that the lever 1 cannot be moved be yond a position in whichthe end 6 of the latch 5 and the projection 7 of the lever 1 are in contact. As soon as the latch is raised by the action of the lever, itis held in such position bymeans of the dog 8, which swings upon the pivot pin as shown and is pushed under the end of the latch by means ofcam' 9, which is rotated on its pivot as shown by the engagement of the projection 7 on thelever 1 with the bifurcated upper end of the cam. When the lever has been stopped in its movement to the reverse position by the latch 5, it is then in .what 15 called -1ts reverse lndic'ation posh tion and is allowedto be moved therefrom to the full reverse position only by the enmoved from the reverse position to the normal position, it is stopped at the normal indication position by the end 6 of the latch 5 engaging with the projection 7 of the lever as the latch 5 has its end 6 raised into the path of suchprojection by the projection 3 upon the lever land the dog Sis moved underneath the latch5 by-the movement of the cam 9 caused by the movement union. T

of the lever 1 toward the normal position, if

causing the projection 7 to engage with the bifurcated end of the cam 9. The lever is released IEI'OIIl'tllG normal indication position by the raising of the armature 11 in the same way that it is released from the reverse indication position.

All of the above mechanism is fully shown, described and claimed in the patent granted to John D. Taylor, February 16th, l90 l,.#752,127, which also shows, describes and claims the safety magnet 13.

The indication selector 14 is fully shown, described and claimed in the patent to John D. Taylor, granted October 2nd, 1906,.

#832,175. The lever 1 has the rod 15 attached thereto which bears upon'its outer end the cross arm 16 which carries on either end the metallic brushes 17 and 18. In the normal position of the lever as shown, the metallic brushes 17 and 18 are adapted to contact with and make connection between springs 19, 20, 21 and 22, but when the lever is in the'reverse position, brush 17 is adapted to contact with and make connection between springs 23 and 24 and brush18 is adapted to contact with and make connection be tween springs 'and26.

S, designates the motor, and associated ap-. paratusfor moving a switch, the same being fully shown and described in the patent to John D. Taylor, granted September 26th, 1905, #800,246. a

27 designates an arm'plvotecl at 28am shown and to so complete a path torelectric current from one to the other. The pivoted member 27 bears the outstanding arm 40 which'is adapted to abut against t-heend of the armature 42 when the armature is in the raised position and to thereby prevent a movement of the arm 27 upon its pivot to the position shown after having been moved by weight 29 in the direction of the arrow 5. The armature 42is governed by the electromagnet having a coil 43.

Upon the movement of the lever 1 to the reverse indication position, current flows from the battery 45 through wires 46 and '47, safety magnet v13, wire 48, wire 49, left hand coil of indication selector'14,'wire-'50, spring 26, brush 18, spring 25, wires 51 and 52, spring 53, movable contact bar 54, spring 55, wire 56,'=brush 57, armature 58, brush 59, wire 60, spring 61, movable contact bar 62, spring63, wire 64, field 65, wire 66,'field 67, wires 68 and 69, fie'ld 70, wire 71, field 72, wires 73, 74 and 75, contact 39, bridging conductor 36,- contaot 38,;wire 76, to the negative terminal of the battery 45, thus completing the circuit. The current flowing in the: above traced path holds the armature 11 down upon the poles of the safety magnet and also energizes the left hand coil upon the indication selector 14, thereby moving the armature 77 upon its pivot. so that it connects 78 and 79; It also causes an energization of the switch throwing motor'at S, thereby causing the same to revolve and throw a switch which may be connected theretoand moves the cross contacting bars 54 and 62 so as to bridge springs 79 and 80 and '81 and 82 respectively, as fully shown, described and claimed in the patent to John D. Taylor, granted August 27th, 1901,

#681,589. After the switch is thrown the motor armature is allowed to rotate free from the connecting mechanism as explained in the last mentioned patent, thereby generating an indication current which flows from brush 57 through wires 56 and 83,

spring 81, movable contact 62, which has been moved, spring 82, wires 84 and 64, field 65, wire 66,fi eld 67, wire 68,wire.69, field70, wire 71, field 72, wires 73, 74- and 85, coil 34, wire 86,,indication magnet-10, wire 87, contact strip? 8, armature 77, contact strip? 9, wire 88, contact spring 24, brush 17, contact spring 23, wires 89' land 90,- contactspring latch so that the full stroke of the lever may be completed.

The operation of the switch from reverse to normal is similar to the operation of the switch from normal to reverse and can easily be traced out by one familiar with the art and is furthermore'fully shown and described in the-patent to Taylor, #800,246 granted September 26th, 1905, in which the functions of electro-magnets 92, 93, 94 and 95 are fully explained and'in which also the function of the rotary circuit controller96 is also explained.

Irrespective of'the direction ot'movement of the motor in moving a switch, the indication currentalways fiows in wire 74 in the direction of the arrow 0, so that the indication current circulates about the electromagnet 33 counter-clockwise, and in so doing aids the currentfiowing in coil 35 to hold the armature 31 in place. The circuit for; coil 35 is as follows: positive side of battery 45, wire 46, wire 97, coil 35, wire98, contact 38 and wire 76 back to the negative terminal of the battery. As such circuit is always closed, the amount of current flowing therein'may be easily regulated to an economical value by the adjustment of the resistance of coil 35. It will be noted that thecurrentfiowing through the coil 35, also flows about-the core of the electromagnet 33 in a counter-clockwise direction, so that both coils 33 and 35 act to hold armature- 31 in place when indication current is flowing in coil 34 in the-proper direction.

' Nosystem of electric interlocking is safe unless means are provided: to prevent the movement of a switch or signal out of correspondence with the controlling lever and in the past many devices for such purpose have b'een devised, but all of such devices have been-heretofore of such a nature that a cross or the entrance of foreign current into the system caused current to be cut 011 from'all functions. This is in some cases undesirable, especially in a very large interlocking plant where one section of the tracks controlled from the interlocking tower may operate practically independently of another section of tracks controlled from the interlockingtower, so applicant has devised a system in which the only function cut off from the main source of current'is the functioir'likely .tolbe affected by the cross or forthe battery would then be of such high re-' the switch connected thereto in a position out of correspondence with the controlling lever 1. Heretofore such a cross has resulted in the opening of the circuit to the battery so that no function in that-section could be operated, but in the systemherein shown, only that function immediately concerned would be affected. The current which would flow in wire 52 to contact spring, 19 and then through brush 17, contact spring 20, wire 99, contact 100, armature 77, contact 78, wire 87, indication magnet 10, wire 86, coil 34:, wires 85 and 75 to contact 39 and bridge 36, contact 38, and wire 7 6 to the negative terminal of the battery. This current flows through the coil 34 in a direction reverse to that in which the regular indication current flows, therefore the flux generated by coil 35 would be neutralized and the armature 31 through the arm 27 and the weight 29 would be drawn away from the pole of the electro-magnet 33 thereby allowing the bridge 36 to break contact with contacts 38 and 39 leaving the winding 43 of high resistance bridged across wires 7 5 and 76, consequently the path for the current back to the negative terminal of si stance that sufiicient current could not flow from wire 52 through the motor at S and back to the negative terminal of the battery to operate the motor, therefore, the switch would not be moved by wire carrying cur.- rent makinga cross with the wire 52.

When bridge 36 moved from in contact with contacts 38 and-39 a path of very high resistance from wires to wire 76 was formed through the coil 43. This path allows suflicient current to flow therein to energize the core upon which the coil. 43 is wound sufficiently to raise the armature 42, but does not allow suflicient current to flow through the motor to cause it to revolve.

As soon as the armature 42 is raised, the armature 27 cannot be returned to normal position as shown in the figure, for the arm,

40 would contact with the end of armature '42 and thus prevent such movement. It is to be further observed that just as long as a wire carrying current remains in contact with wire 52 a current will flow through the coil 43, so that it is impossible to return the arm 27 to its normal position, thus bridging.

contacts 38 and 39 until all current through the coil 43 has ceased and the armature 42 has dropped to the normal position as shown in the figure. This mode of operation is for the purpose of preventing an operator. from moving the arm 2'? into its normal position before the cross has been removed and then attempting to operate the switch controlled by the wires which arecrossed. ltis also to be observed that as long as the cross re .,U13i11$,(51111'61lt will flow through coil 3% in the reverse direction, so that even if ltwere the lever 1.

Although applicant has herein shown and described one operated function only and one means for operating one function, it is to be understood that both the means for operating and the operated functions will, in an interlocking plant, be duplicated to any extent desired.

It must now be understood that applicant has devised a system of protection which is directed merely to the particular function which is affected and concerns in no way the other functions which may be associated with it. It is to be further observed that this method of. protection requires that a. separate wire be extended from each switch or signal -movement to the interlocking tower at which the lever 1 and the device including the arm 27 is placed, but by reason of the superior advantages of such a method of, protech'on, the added expense is immaterial.

Having particularly described the con struction and connection of one embodiment of my invention and explained the operation and principle thereof what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electric interlocking system, a

source of current, a signaling device, circuit controllers, a lever for moving the circuit controllers, connections from the source of current to the circuit controllers, connections from the circuit controllers to the signaling device, a return connection from the signaling device to the source of current, and means interposed in said return connection to break the normal continuity of the same when current flows to said second mentioned connections from an improper source, and means responsive to such flow of current for holding said means in its operated position until such flow of current ceases.

In an electric interlocking system; a

source of current; circuit controllers; a sigsignaling device which the circuit COUtI'OllQr is not in a position to supply current to; and means responslve to such current for positively preventing nianual' restoring of such means to a position to-close said return;

path-While such current is supplied.

nection; and means for locking said'circuit controller open and thereby retaining the continuity broken against manual completion until the last named means are inactive to break the continuity of the'return connection.

4:. In an electricinterlocking system: a source of current; a signaling device having a plurality of terminals and adapted to generate a current; aireturn connection from the signaling device to the source of current; I circuit controllers comprising fixed contacts a and movable bridges;'aplurality of condue tors, each-fconductor connected at'one end to a separate terminal. of the signaling de 'vice' and at and near the other to a'plur'a'lity of separate fixed contacts of the circuit controllers; an indication magnet. having tWo terminals; ineansconnecting one-terminal of the indication magnet to a plurality of fixed contacts of the circuit controllers; a connection-from the other terminal of the indication magnet to the return connection having a coilinterposed therein; a core for said coil; another coil on said core normally energized from the source of current; means governed by said core for preserving the continuity of the return connection when; current generated by the signaling device floWs through the first mentioned coil, and

when the current flows through the second mentioned coil from the source, said means acting to break said return connection When current flows from the indication magnetthrough the first mentioned coil to the re turn connection; means energized upon said last mentioned flow for preventing manual closing of the return connection until the flOW of current from the indication magnet to the return ceases.

5. In an electric interlocking system: a

function; a source of current; operating Wires; means for connecting'the source ofv current through the operating Wires with the function; a return connection from the function to the source of current; a circuit controller included in said return connec-' tion; and means for opening said circuit controller when current from the source flows improperly to an operating Wire; a device for holding said circuit controlleropen; and means set into operation by such floW of improper current for operating said device to prevent said circuit controller from be- "ng restored to its-normal closed position ilntll suchiniproper flow of current ceases.

6. 111 an electric interlocking system in combination: asource of current; anrelectrically operated function; 'a'i'eturn connection-fromsaid function to said source of current; a circuit controlling, lever for governing the movements of said function; a circuit Which is closed When said lever and 'said function are at rest; electromagnetic *means operated to break said return connectionwhen current from said source flows through said circuit; and means responsive to said flow offcurr'ent for holdingsaideleo troinagnetic means in its operated'position *until suchflow of current ceases.

7 In an electric interlocking system, in

combination: a source of current; anelec tri'cally operated function; operating Wires for leading current from said source to said function; acircuit controlling-lever for governing the connection between said 'operating Wires and said source and operable to govern the movements .of said function; a return'connection from said function'to said source; electromagnetic means for automatically breaking said return connection when current from said source flows in an operating Wire Which is disconnected from said source by said lever; and means set into operationbysu'c'h flow of current for retaining said electromagnetic means in its operated position and [thereby positivelypreventing the continuity of said return connection from' being established at any time until such new of current "ceases.

8. In an electricinterlo'cking system, in

combination: a source of'current; an elec rtrically operated function; a return connection froin said function to said source; a conductor connected to said return connection; operating Wires for carrying current from said source to said functionya" circuit controlling lever arranged to connect said operating Wires alternately one at atime to said source of current and to said conductor; acircuit controller interposed insaid return connection electromagnetic means interposed in said conductor and operated by a flow of current therein in a certain direction to open said circuit controller; and

means for holding said circuit controller open until such flow of current ceases.

9. A protective device for electric interlocking systems,' 'comprising a circuit controller'; electromagnetic means for-controllin'gsaid circuit'controller a circuit forsaid means,said means being operated by a flow of current in said circuit in a certain direction, and means for holding said circuit cont-roller open until the'flo'W of'current in said circuit in said direction ceases.

[ 10. A protective device for electric interlocking systems, comprising a circuit controllerfmeans tending to open said circuit ion controller; electromagnetic means responsive to a flow of current in a certain direction for holding said circuit controller closed and operating to, permit said circuit controller to open When the flow of current is reversed; a high resistance path across the contacts of said circuit controller; and means operated by said flow of current in said path for holding said circuit controller 0 en.

11. In an electric interlocking system, in combination: a circuit; a normally closed ler open.

circuit controller included in said circuit; electromagnetic means operated by a flow of current in said circuit in a certain direction 15 for opening said circuit controller; and means operated so long as said flow of current exists for holding said circuit control 'WINTHROP K. HOWE.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN L. PHInLres, M. CHARLOTTE GREGORIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents'each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. G. 

